Caressed by Night (24 page)

“They don’t understand you.”

“I don’t belong with them.” He brushed his lips against hers and smiled as he felt her pleasurable shiver.

Kerstyn pushed herself up, leaning over him, her hair falling about them. She ran her finger down his strong jaw and traced the curve of his lips.

She knew Dimitri was not the type of person who shared his most private thoughts or emotions. She felt honored that he trusted her with his secret insecurity. He was unwelcome amongst his people. She could hear in his voice that they feared him, which was outrageous.

Dimitri may be an all-powerful, all-knowing vampire, but he was kind and gentle. He valued life.

Sadness welled within her, causing tears to gather in her eyes once again. For so long he had wandered the earth alone, having no one in whom to confide, no one to soothe his wounds, no one to love him.

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A single tear slipped down her cheek and Dimitri brushed it away with his thumb.

She would never know what convinced her, but she could feel it in her bones, in her soul. He belonged to her. Dimitri Arsov was the man she had waited for her entire life. She had never been one to believe in love at first sight, but it had happened. This amazingly powerful, strikingly handsome vampire was the one for her, her other half.

Wetting her lips, she whispered, “You belong with me.”
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Kerstyn held onto Dimitri’s arm, as they crossed the dance floor of Dark. Vampires took respectful, and frightened steps back, parting for them as they headed towards the section of the club set aside for celebrities and very important people. Multi-colored balloons floated and bumped against the ceiling; vibrant streamers were laced about the railings that separated the VIP section from the dance floor.

At a booth in the back corner, gifts were stacked high on the table with a five-tiered, decorative cake resting directly in the center.

For a wedding anniversary party, it all seemed very normal.

Well, as normal as it could be with all the bowing, staring, and incessant whispering. And the fact that this was a vampire anniversary party.

Kerstyn broke her hold on Dimitri to place their gift with the others. Taking in the number of presents, Kerstyn glanced about the room. Empty. Well, empty if she didn’t count Gannon standing guard by the elevator. She waved to him. He gave her a slight nod in response.

“Where is everyone?”

“We are early.”

She scuffed. They were obviously not the only ones here for the party. She shrugged.
The other guests must be dancing or at the
bar.

“Most of these gifts were delivered,” Dimitri said. “Everyone knew that Dorian and Victoria were coming here and would be staying at Gabriel’s hotel.”

“Are we the only guests?”

“Yes. Gabriel will be joining us shortly, but no others were invited.”

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“Well, I hope they like me.”

Dimitri gave her a reassuring smile and wrapped an arm about her shoulders. “They will love you and I have a feeling you and Victoria will ‘hit it off’.”

“A girlfriend who is a vampire? I’m game. I already have a witch. Now, all I will need is a shape-shifter.”

“Victoria is not exactly a vampire, though she resembles one, and you will not find any shape-shifters in Las Vegas.” Before she could ask him what he meant about “not exactly a vampire” and where she could find a shape-shifter, Dimitri turned away, his eyes focusing on the entrance. Kerstyn followed his gaze where a tall, dark haired man stood at the top of the steps. His piercing eyes roamed over the crowd below before locking with Dimitri’s.

A woman joined the new mystery man and, wrapping an arm about her waist, they began making their way down the stairs and across the dance floor. Heads turned and the whispers grew louder.

What a disgustingly gorgeous couple
, Kerstyn thought as the newcomers stepped up into the VIP section.

The woman was stunning with dark, tousled locks and emerald eyes. She was dressed in a form-flattering, red silk dress while the man was elegant in an Armani suit. His sea-colored eyes sparkled in the darkness of the club and Kerstyn knew immediately the tall, muscled man was a vampire.

“Sire,” the vampire greeted them with a bow, “allow me to introduce my wife, Victoria.”

“It’s a pleasure and honor to make your acquaintance, Sire,” she said, making a low curtsy.

Dimitri leaned forward and pulled Victoria up by her shoulders.

“Please, that is not necessary and it is I who am honored. You have been the saving grace in my dear friend’s life.” Turning, he laced his fingers with Kerstyn’s and tugged her forward. “Kerstyn, this is Dorian and Victoria Vlakhos, King and Queen of the Mylonas Clan.” Kerstyn swallowed hard. They were vampire royalty.

Dorian dropped to his knee, slamming his fist on the floor causing the building to shake as gasps vibrated through the air while
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every eye turned upon them. Kerstyn stared down at Dorian’s bowed head.

“I pledge my loyalty, sword, and life to you, my lady.” Kerstyn’s eyes shot to Dimitri who smiled.

“Th-Thank you,” she said, her voice quaking.

What the hell was that
, she thought.
Why would he make a
pledge to me?

Dorian stood, his right hand over his heart. “It truly is an honor to meet you.”

Kerstyn had no idea what had just taken place, but the entire club was afire with whispers. Vampires snapped photos with their cell phones, made calls, typed frantic text messages and emails. Whatever just happened, it was important in the vampire community. The small number of humans in the club stared in bewilderment, trying to figure out what was taking place.

“Would you like a drink?” Dimitri asked, pulling a bottle from an ice bucket, with a deft twist of his wrist, Dimitri uncorked it, the chilled mist of the opened bottle swirling lazily in the air.

Kerstyn was in such a daze she did not notice she had nodded.

“A drink would be wonderful,” Victoria agreed.

Dimitri smiled as he poured the champagne while Dorian presented a glass to each lady, Kerstyn blindly wrapping her fingers around the delicate, crystal flute. When Dimitri had filled his own glass, he raised it and said, “Dorian, Victoria. To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides—it makes our lives worthwhile.” Dorian smiled and looked to Victoria, each raising their glass to the other and then sipping. Then Dorian looked to Dimitri and raised his glass briefly, “And you, my friend, have found your own sunshine.” The music changed to a steady thump of bass and a classical melody.

Victoria took another sip of her drink. “I would like to dance.” She stepped forward. “Do you like to dance, Kerstyn.”

“I-I love to dance.”

Victoria smiled. “Dorian does not like crowds and would be very uncomfortable on the dance floor. Will you join me?”
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Glancing up at Dimitri, Kerstyn agreed, “Sounds like a plan. I think Dimitri would rather stay away from the dance floor as well.” Dimitri nodded and gave Kerstyn’s hand a loving squeeze before she drew away.

While Dimitri’s gaze followed Kerstyn as she went to the dance floor, Dorian was watching him. Though he had not seen Dimitri in centuries, he noticed differences: his eyes shone with a warm light replacing the cool calculating sharpness that had always filled their depths. A light flush colored his face every time Kerstyn was near and he even noted the ancient’s heart rate pick up when the mortal woman smiled.

“Dorian, may I ask you a question?”

“Anything.”

“How did you tell Victoria she was your mate?”

Dorian’s lips turned up with a smile, warmth filling his eyes.

“Well, I had no choice. I had to explain everything all at once. The thought of Victoria being my mate did not occur to me when we met even though I knew I had to have her.” His gaze slipped to his wife, who was dancing with Kerstyn. “I thought I was going to be like every other vampire king. I believed the curse would claim my life.

“It wasn’t until we were on a ship bound for Estonia, Queen Sonya’s territory, that I realized she was my intended. At the time, I had not fed in months and bloodlust had taken control of me. I was quite crazed, an animal. It was then that Victoria discovered my secret and realized she had married a vampire. Despite her fear, she wanted to help me and offered me her blood.” Dorian paused, his eyes dropping to the floor, his fingers slowly curled into fists. “In my delirium, I took too much. She was only a gentle push away from falling into the cold, greedy hands of death.” He swallowed hard. “I could not lose her. I cut my vein and willed her to drink. She had a small cut on her lip where our blood had mixed. When I kissed her and swallowed the tiny bead of crimson, our lives were forever intertwined.”

Dorian leaned back, his hand caressing his right hip. “We both bear the scar of the binding ritual.”

He turned his gaze back to Dimitri. “After that night, I had to tell Victoria everything. I told her about the Fathers, you, the curse, the witches, and what had happened between she and I. I was so worried she would refuse me.”

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“Everything worked out well.”

“Yes, I hate to say it this way, but neither of us had a choice.

The binding was complete. She was bound to a vampire for all eternity.”

Dimitri slowly nodded. Dorian had accidentally tied Victoria to him, ignorant of how the ritual worked. However, Dimitri knew exactly how everything was to unfold. He had been determined to bind Kerstyn to him, but his conscience had gotten in the way. For once, he wished he could ignore the damn thing.

His eyes searched the crowd on the dance floor, easily spotting his mate. Warmth filled his chest as he watched her moving along to the music, laughing with Victoria. She was so young, so full of life, and yet she was going to die unless he could find a way to save her.

“Can I assume you have not told Kerstyn she is your mate?”

“She does not know.”

“Why are you waiting?”

Dimitri sighed and scrubbed his face with his hand. “I wanted to give her time.”

“Time is both friend and foe to our kind, but in the end, there is never enough,” Dorian said with a shrug.

“We have been together a little over two weeks. Kerstyn has received so much information in such a short amount of time. Her entire life has been swept from beneath her feet.”

“She is here with you; she must be adjusting well to our world.”

“Kerstyn is doing much better than I expected or could hope.

She is strong.” Dimitri slid back in his seat. “I…I do not want her to feel trapped.”

“Why would she feel trapped? She obviously has feelings for you or she would not be here. She is also your mate, your intended. The two of you were made for each other, as trite as that sounds.”

“I feel I am rushing her, crowding her,” he groaned, “I need to tell her she is my mate and I want to bind her to me before―” The words choked him. He could not bring himself to voice the future.

“What?”

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“How do you suggest I tell her? How do I explain such a thing to her?”

Dorian frowned, but he was not about to press Dimitri to continue. The old vampire had many secrets and guarded them well. He would wait. Dimitri would share when he was ready.

“Be open. Lay bare your soul.”

“What if―”

Dorian shook his head. “There are always ‘ifs’ when it comes to destiny. You taught me that. She will accept you.” Dimitri let out a large sigh, as if a great weight were crushing his chest. “If you knew what secrets I hold…I do not think you would be saying this.”

“Everyone has a past.”

“Not like mine. For Godsakes, Dorian, I have lived what seems to be forever.”

“This earth is still much older than you.”

Dimitri chuckled.

“I know you hate to talk about the past and I know you have never shared your secrets, but she is your mate. She will always be there for you. You will share your hopes, your worries, your dreams, your past, present, and future with her. Everything. And if there is anyone in this world who will understand you, it is Kerstyn.” Dimitri ran an unsteady hand through his hair. How could Kerstyn love him once she knew the things he had done? No one could be so understanding. It was his fault vampires existed.

His gaze flickered to Dorian and his heart sank. If it weren’t for him, good men like his friend would have been able to live out normal, happy lives instead of being cursed with death.

“Trust me, Dimitri. Give Kerstyn a chance. She may surprise you.”

Dimitri’s stomach churned with unease as he considered his options.

“You are right. I should not assume I know how she will react.” He smiled. “You have grown wise beyond your years.”

“I’m over 3,000-years-old,” Dorian said with a laugh. “I had better be wise.” Dorian gave Dimitri a studied glare before saying, “At
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the moment, my wisdom is telling me you are hiding something.” Dimitri arched a brow.

“I can feel it.”

Dimitri sighed, “I despise being able to see the future.”

“I don’t envy that.”

“Kerstyn is going to die,” Dimitri said in a rush, worried that if he took his time the words would not come out.

Dorian’s body went cold. “How? When?”

Dimitri shook his head. “All I know is her death takes place when Ven arrives,” he took a deep breath. “In my vision, I see Kerstyn on the ground. She has been shot. It is raining and there is someone leaning above her.”